Ryan Pedon is entering his second season on the Fighting Illini staff, serving as special assistant to head coach John Groce. Hired in April 2013, Pedon (pronounced PEA-den) is a 13-year veteran of the coaching profession, serving the last three seasons as assistant coach at Toledo.

Pedon helped coach Tod Kowalczyk transform the program during his time at Toledo. The Rockets boasted a 15-win improvement in 2012 - second-best in the nation - and recorded UT's first postseason win in 11 years. This past season, the Rockets tied for first place in the MAC's West Division with a 10-6 record, securing Toledo's first division title and most conference wins since 2007.

Pedon earned his first assistant coaching position at Miami (Ohio), serving five years on former coach Charlie Coles' staff, including three years as recruiting coordinator. The RedHawks boasted winning conference records all five years during Pedon's tenure and won the MAC Tournament title in 2007 to earn the school's first NCAA Tournament berth since 1999. In addition to his day-to-day coaching and recruiting responsibilities with the RedHawks, Pedon was critical in the creation and cultivation of the program's Sixth Man Club as well as being a catalyst behind the upgrades to the locker room and Millett Hall's practice gymnasium. He also oversaw the Charlie Coles Boys Basketball Camp.

Prior to his tenure as an assistant, Pedon spent three years as Director of Basketball Operations at Kent State under former coach Jim Christian. While he was there, the Golden Flashes recorded three 20-win seasons and finished first in the MAC's East Division in both 2003 and 2004. Pedon handled all of Kent State's travel arrangements, monitored team study tables, coordinated film exchange, assisted with on-campus recruiting and was the director of the program's summer basketball camp.

Pedon's first job was serving as graduate assistant at Miami for two seasons. During that time, he handled daily administrative duties for the RedHawks, assisted with team travel and meals and coordinated film exchange with opponents.

Pedon played college basketball at NCAA Division III powerhouse Wooster, where he was a three-year varsity letterwinner and helped the Fighting Scots to three regular-season North Coast Athletic Conference championships (1998, 1999, 2000) and three NCAC Tournament titles (1997, 1999, 2000). In his junior and senior seasons, the Scots advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Div. III Tournament and finished with a No. 5 national ranking both years. Elected one of the Scots' team co-captains as a senior, Pedon was bestowed Wooster's annual "Bear Award," given to the player who demonstrates the best enthusiasm and leadership.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Pedon earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Wooster in 2000 and a master's degree in sport organization from Miami in 2002. He and his wife, Stephanie, have a son, Maddox.